Evidence requirements for the development of the National Australian Arts and Health Framework

This article outlines the work undertaken to provide evidence required to support the development of the National Arts and Health Framework endorsed by the Australian health ministers in November 2013. The Institute For Creative Health was charged with being the sector’s reference organization and supplied the evidence required throughout the Framework’s development, as well as moderating the sector’s response to draft proposals. A two-phase process of assembling the evidence required to support government action was identified. With Finland, Australia leads the world in having the health jurisdictions create a National Arts and Health Framework, and appropriate evidence was critical at all stages of its development.